Master Of None

”Those rune words aren’t from the same time. They are from very spread out. Maybe hundreds of years separated, right?’ Alice seemed to be catching on that this was when some members of the origin race might have been much younger. When they were learning to balance and grow the whole that they had barely begun to explore themselves.

”They certainly are. I think that the origin race is powerful and some are very old, but they are not all knowing and others are not as experienced. There just might not be many of them that we can see since they go out in to the chaotic mana.”

Knowing that there were potentially few meant that either more were out in the chaotic mana exploring and finding new elemental planes or that they were very few in number. The idea that the race he became part of was nearly extinct didn’t sit well with Walker. He didn’t want any race to suffer the worries that came with that. Let alone one that he was now tied to so deeply.

”I think that if we’re going to move forward with this we should try to see the origin race as more than caretakers and see them as those who have been ahead of our plans preparing the world for what we are doing now.” Su’s outlook was more positive since she was trying to look at it as if they had all been working toward the same goal from the start.

In some terms that is correct, however, it was also clear that the origin race had focused themselves on their natural abilities to ferry new elemental planes and foster new races and life as a whole. Whether it took the form of what the party traditionally expected or not, it was a major change to what the party was doing in the sense that they were focused on the intelligent braces only.

Although, now there was a lot of skepticism related to the actions of the origin race when they might not have been as experienced about growing these places. The elemental planes were delicate and their actions most likely caused the destruction of a few that would not have happened. Then again, they have also caused the growth of many that would not have happened. They had also managed to protect the entirety which was now the greater elemental planes and by condition the world itself.

Meaning that the will of existence was able to give birth to the will of the world. Something that was still a mystery as to what it was and how they both fully worked. Yet, that didn’t perturb Walker any longer. He believed that the origin race was one that found methods to work directly with the will of existence in some way guiding them to the roles they played right now.

”My focus is the world and with it connected and balanced to the greater elemental planes I don’t think we need to worry about another unbalanced elemental war.” His words were solid enough to make everyone stop thinking too hard about the undead elemental plane that was right in front of him. But Walker also understood others would have their questions and that would be more than fair.

”What do you want to do now? We saw a lot but we are probably far from the world right now.” The bit of uncertainty had made Remey question if they were going to keep looking around or if they would pursue a return to the world to see how everyone was doing. Whether they realized the proper time that they were away or not, it had been close to over a month, going on two months. That was a long time to be away with the rapid growth that Genesis was going through.

There was also the fact that the party would bring more knowledge back and they might be lucky enough to arrive with the ability to see how the emissaries sent out would return. If they were even luckier they might be able to get a few of the emissaries back safely while they returned. Then again, Walker had taken some growth in space elemental mana usage. He might be able to get the party back much faster. That was if he had been able to grasp enough new understanding.

”Just forget all the complicated stuff from the past. We know that the elemental planes are growing even without this. We knew the origin race was helping them grow. So, what is new is the how they do it and even that is still a massive mess of who knows what. Let’s just head toward home and if Walker begins to learn something or other we can move back.” The blunt call was Gil’s and he made perfect sense. Delving in to more truth and understanding would just push them days and days away from their people.

This final small discovery had been enlightening but it had been the manas and the process that Walker would benefit from. The others had gained some insight in to the world and how it worked and grew. Therefore, they could be more prepared when guiding their own people. Benefits for everyone and that was enough. They could accept it well.

”I don’t feel that I will find any time elemental planes. I can accept that I can now sense and somewhat see the time mana. It’s an odd ethereal blue color. It’s there but not. I think that’s because it is everywhere and it can’t be interfered with…” Part of Walker wanted to compare time mana to space mana. He had once struggled to see and sense space too even though it was everywhere.

Deep down he knew the difference though. It was a core and foundational difference. While apart they were singular and somewhat empty. Together the two manas enabled existence to grow many new aspects. It allowed change to come to elemental manas and even for life and death to exist as they truly should be rather than just a frozen isolation of themselves.

”It’s alright, we need to all meditate and train in regards to our newfound enlightenments.” Su saw Walker becoming somewhat lost in thought and knew he was struggling to grasp new understandings. He and all of them would need time to get there eventually.

”You’re all right. Come closer I want to use the space mana skills I think should work now. I think I can teleport us all back to… I think it’s the water elemental plane closest to us.” Walker knew that it was a leap to say he would bring them so far, but he swore that he could feel a closeness now. Something poking at the edge of his senses saying that he could return without struggling to do so.

The mana within him, the natural mana felt linked. It was like a map telling him how to get home to where he belonged. The others trusted him and linked arms preparing for their return to be much faster than they expected.

However, as Walker drew in that space mana to try teleportation, he felt his mana sense encompassed. Like a pair of hands made of mana had protected them and begun to carry the entire group away.

If he had to compare it to something, it was like when someone found a small butterfly or moth in their home. Captured and brought to where they belonged. However, to Walker it felt like his use of space mana was guided and directed properly. Not just to bring them where he thought they were going but to help bring them where they wanted to.

”What!? That’s the bridge to Genesis isn’t it? I can sense the fire mana of Ignus’s territory in the other side. Weren’t we heading to water elemental territory?” Remey was excited with the comfortable feeling she had in feeling the familiar fire mana.

”I… I think I was helped by someone to get back.” Walker knew this was true but it was like telling someone that their ancestors had looked down on them. It was a feeling of closeness, not fact to be proven.

”I could believe that. You met origin race members before in some way or another. And that dragon and whatever the other thing was knew you and helped us. So maybe we were being guided the whole time?” While unnerving, Gil made a good point that left everyone more at ease than worried.

It made them understand that their growth wasn’t just something on them. They had support from others well above those who respected and believed in them. Maybe more focused on Walker because he was also of the origin race. That didn’t matter though, they had benefited and they would return that kindness to every race they met.

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